File or rack for papers, documents, merchandise, and the like



Aug. 28, 1928.

1,682,423 H. 0. Ross FILE 0H RACK FOR PAPERS, DOCUMENTS, MERCHANDISE, AND THE LIKE Filed June 8, 1925 INVENTOP flarar/ 0 F055.

/47-TQPNE yerably,

each of oblong-rectangular configuration;

only at its top,

Patented Auv. 28, 1928.

HUNITED STATES HER ERT 0. ROSS, or sr. Louis, MISSOURI.

FILE on RACK r03 reruns, noen'mnnrs,

Application filed June 8,

This invention relates to'a certain new and useful improvement in racks or files for papers, documents, merchandise and the like and has for its chief object the provision of a rack or file ofthe class-stated comprising a plurality of simple'and inexpensive compartn'ient-forming; co-operating sections or units adapted for convenient detachable connection the one with the other for varying both the capacity of respective compartments and the capacity of the complete tile or rack.

And with the above and other objects in view, my present. invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. i

In the accompanying drawhigfliigure 1 is a plan view of a file or rack embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an end view and i i V Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the units of the file or rack.

Referring now more in detail andby reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, thefile or rack comprises as a whole a plurality of compartmerit-forming sections or units each of which is formed preferably of a single piece or section of suitable material, such as sheet metal, of size and dimensions to include by bending a base-wall 1, a side wall 2, and a back or end wall 3. Prefas shown, base 1 and back wall 3 are of the file or rac 1;

side wall 2 however, for pur oses shortly appearing, is preferably obliqnely cut-away along its upper margin to e of greaterheigl'it adjacent back wall 8 than at the front end of the unit. The unit is thus open not but also both at one side the one side wall 2 and at one end end wall 3. I opposite ends, base 1 is formed with a preferably square opening 4 and a rectangular-slot 5, the end wall 3 being similarly formed adjacent its opposite side margins with a like opening 6 and slot 7. r i i F or convenience now in describing the finishedfile, I shall designate the units as A, B, C, etc, and in assembling the tile, a second unit B is disposed to fit within the confines of first unit with its base 1 disposed fiatwiseat its margin upon the base opposite opposte the one At or ad acent its miincimnnisn, AND THE L nn.

1925. Serial zidea'eve; i

1 of the first unit Awith the openings 4 of Ul'llt' B registering with the slots 5 of unit A, with its side wall 2 presented towards the side wall 2 of the first unit, and with its back-wall partly -overlapping fiatw'ise upon the free margin of the back-wall 3 of the first unit A, with the openings 6 of unit B registering with slots 7 of unit A. l By means then of. suitable fastening-members,

such as preferably square-shank bolts adapted to receive wingainits 8, passed'through the registering; openings 6 and slots 7 of said units and by feet 9 having square threaded shanks projected through the registering square-openings t and slots 5. the units A "and B are detachably secured together, the overlapping end walls of said units and the side wall 2 of the second unit B with the side wall2 of unit A co-operati'ng to form a compartment for the convenient reception of papers, documents, merchandise, and the like.

In such manner,.and by additional units C, the size and capacity of the file may be adjustably enlarged to include any number of coinpartmentsso to meet various requirements.

And to complete the final compartment, an end unit l) of substantially the same form as units A, B, and C, but with its side wall 10 and end wall 11 reversed in direction relatively to its base, is likewise fitted upon and adjustably secured to the final unit C,

as shown, the side wall 10 of unit D co-op-.

crating with the side wall 2 of the last unit 0 in completing the final compartment and therack as so completed comprising a desired plurality of such open end compartments, the width or capacity of any of which being readily and selectively adjustable by re: "on of the base and end wall slots 5 and 7. My new file or rack and its units or sec-. tions are of simple and inexpensive form and construction. The units "01- seetions may be of any suitable size so that the complete rack may 'fit either drawer or upon a table, counter, or desk, the reduced height of the side walls of the several units at the front end of the file affording easy gripping and removal of the contained papers or the like. The several sections may be readily attached together in within a desk or. tableiile-coniipleting co-operation, and the file. as

a whole is conveniently adjustable either to compartments.

And it is to be understood that changes in the form, construct-ion, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my new file or rack may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rack, a plurality of complementary compartment-forming separable units, each unit including a base Wall and a single end wall and single side wall upstanding from the base wall and each unit being open upon its opposite end and side, said units being adapted to fit telescopically together with the end and side walls of one unit superposed over the respective end and side walls of the next adjacent unit, and means for separably securing said units together in compartment-forming relation.

2. In a rack, a plurality of complementary compartment-forming separable units, each unit including a base wall and a single end wall and single side wall upstanding from the base wall and each unit being open upon its opposite end and side, said units being adapted to fit telescopically together in adjustable relation with the-end and side walls of one unit superposed over the respective end and side walls of the next adjacent unit, and means for separably securing said units adjustably together, contiguous units, when so secured together, torming an open-end compartment.

3. In a rack, a plurality of complementary com partment-iorniing separable units, each unit including a base wall and a single end wall and single side wall upstanding from the base wall and each unit being open upon its opposite end and side, said units being adapted to lit telescopically together in adjustable relation with the end and side walls of one unit superposed over the respective end and side walls of the next adjacent unit, and means comprising fastening members engaging the telescopically disposed walls of the units for sel'iarably securing said units together, contiguous units, when so secured together, providing open end compartments.

In testimony whereof, I name to this specification.

HERBERT O. ROSS.

have signed my 

